It's finally finished!

Ta-Dah! It's done!

Today I put my sideboard into my booth...my basically non-existent booth! Seriously, there was nothing there. It was pitiful and has weighed heavy on my mind for about a week and a half since the table sold. I had already covered my rent and made money, but still...an empty booth just won't do. I jumped in without a lot of stuff finished thinking I'd have more time, but I'm not complaining! I'm still reeling from the speed of that sale:)

Anyway, want to see the before and afters? Silly question...of course you do! Who doesn't love before and afters?!

Here's the before(s):

(I got too excited and sanded the scratched top and puttied before taking a before pic!)

and

Here's the afters!



This pic's a little lopsided-or I am! Sorry, but there's a limit to how much time I've got to spend using Photoshop!



Like my drawer lining? More of my fabric stash!



Love these legs!

I got this piece at an estate auction. My first one! It's cherry, I believe and heavy! I had seen a picture of it on-line and went specifically for this. Sideboards/buffets are such great versatile pieces. They can go in a dining room, foyer, bedroom, behind a sofa, etc. This is my kind of furniture. I am very practical, and a versatile piece is just that.

There is a tutorial typed up, but I'm a little hesitant to post it. It seems so long! I keep editing and I just can't cut steps out or it wouldn't be accurate. So, even though it seems wordy (which I hate on instructions) I'll post it tomorrow since it's already typed. Just thought I'd warn you!

I have to say, I was extremely tempted to keep this. It's really a little more ornate than I usually keep in my house, but then again, I'm a design mutt. I look at the beauty and quality of a piece, not just the style. If it has good bones, then any style's fair game!

On a side note:

The "men" are in watching World's Dumbest again?! What's with that show's air timing and my reveal posts?! Or a better question is, what does their belly laughter at that show say about these "men" in my house?

Miss Bee

I'm linking up to some parties:
 A Beach Cottage
Momma Hens
Savvy Southern Style 
Miss Mustard Seed
French Country Cottage

Go see some of the other awesome projects people have finished lately!

I think I have a problem...

I have a confession to make: I have a drinking problem. I constantly have a drink in my hand. Ask anyone who knows me! My beverages of choice are coffee, coffee and more coffee and tons of water. Seriously, it's ridiculous. I went out early this morning to my garage to work after dropping the older two off at school and was reveling in the morning sun streaming in the windows. Then it hit me. It was landing on an insane number of cups! I'm not kidding. Look at this:

One person should not consume this much liquid in a short amount of time, should they (two of the coffee cups are from yesterday, but I have already had three cups this morning!)?

This is what I was looking at and thinking how happy it made me - tools of the trade being bathed in bright morning sunlight - when this "reality" slapped me in the face:

Oh, well. If you can't laugh at yourself, who will?! Heaven knows I've embraced this concept. I laugh at myself and my_____(fill in the blank-tons of options) almost constantly! Otherwise, I'd cry.

On another note, tutorial will hopefully be posted tonight on the table/sideboard redo that so many of you have had questions about. I spend the day yesterday taking more pictures since I didn't do that with the table. It was my first foray into big time refinishing and I wasn't even thinking about a blog at the time. So, I have tried to get some of the sideboard finished the same way.

I don't know about where you live, but here it is a GORGEOUS spring morning. I'm heading out for a walk with my little guy and Scottie Dog. Maybe I'll get a good inspiration pic while I'm at it to share. Until then...

Miss Bee

What's your style?

Can you classify your style of design? Like I said before, I'm what my hubby would call a "design mutt" - a "Heinz 57" (as we say in the south for a mix of all flavors). One of the great things about getting older or finally growing up (some!) is that you learn to loosen up and not feel so obligated to follow the rules (not about right and wrong, but pretty much everything else).

I used to be much more calculated in my design, and wanted to make sure I did things "right" by design standards, but now I don't worry much about that. Just like I used to hate abstract art, until I was teaching at the Art Institute and learned to love it.  I've learned to just go with what I love and who cares if it doesn't all fall into a certain category? Design rules are good as guidelines, not absolutes. In my opinion (and that's all it is...just my opinion), you're not a good designer if you can't step out on a limb some and just go with what the client likes. Figure out a way to make it work! That's what makes your work "great" and creates invention and discovery:)


If I had to describe my style in everyday words it would be a mix of Ballard Catalog, Pottery Barn, West Elm and old Hollywood regency/glamour. In other words, a little modern, country, rustic, french, Scandinavian, old glamour, and lots of beach cottage (we used to live on the coast and my heart's still there). I love beautiful things, but not impractical. Life's too short to be impractical and uncomfortable. I want you to sit down and put your feet up, let the kids play and relax soaking in the atmosphere and beauty around you.
My favorite word is "juxtaposition" because that describes me to a T. I like to mix it up. Sticking too close to one style is boring. Adding the unexpected makes if fun and exciting! Contrary to what you might think from my previous post about color, I don't like wild, over-the-top. I love soft colors with an occasional pop of something bright. It took a long time for me to realize that I actually tend to prefer to keep my home more neutral and soft because it's more relaxing, which I definitely need. I've always used my house as my showcase or portfolio and I've been blessed to have a husband who pretty much gives me cart-blanch to do what I want around here. (Then again, maybe he just gave that battle up!)

Here's some pictures I pulled from my "inspirations" file that are good examples of how I like to use color in a room (although some of the rooms are a little stiff for me style-wise):

Color in artwork!

Painting via And George by Abby Kasonik

Color in the back of a built-in or piece of furniture.



via Martha Stewart



Plants and accessories.



Laren Liess via Verdigris Vie (?)



Dito.

Again, artwork and pillows.



Via Verdigris Vie



 Ceilings, accessories and fabric: Notice the detail around the drawers!



Via House of Turquoise



Only on walls and a few accessories.



Again, not sure... via House of Turquoise?

Did you notice I like to tone it down by adding lots of neutrals, wood and white? I love some white in a room. A soft white, not sterile. It makes it feel open, light, bright and happy. But, you do have to have some black or dark brown sprinkled around to ground it.
See this gorgeous painting I have hanging front and center in my dining room?

Talk about abstract! But, it's my absolute favorite piece. Know why? My two older boys did it for me when they were just 3 and 1:) I will always remember them stripped down to their birthday suit and diaper (to prevent ruined clothes...not cause we paint in the nude around here!) having a ball with Mommy's paints and brushes.

See what I mean about loosening up? If I'd not done that and learned to love abstract art simply because of the feeling it evokes, I'd have missed out on the joy I see every time I look at this beauty! Bet you want to see my house now, don't you? Well, I'm gonna be mean and make you wait. I will post pics before too long of the finished rooms and maybe even post ones of the rooms still in the works. You can follow the progress that way and see how my brain works!

So, what's your style? Do you really express it or to you keep it reigned in because it doesn't "fit" into a certain category or with what everyone else's house looks like? God made us each special and unique. We have different tastes. Celebrate it! Make your home a place you love to be. Not with things so much as by creating a happy, relaxed environment that truly describes you.

Miss Bee

New tutorial in the works!

I am overwhelmed, to say the least! Kim, over at Savvy Southern Style, just posted about my table redo!!!! Eek, Gads! I've been featured! Thank you a million times over, Ms. Kim. I've gotten a ton of wonderful comments and questions on it. Bless you all:) If you knew just how much that means on that piece in particular, you'd smile all day long! Seriously, that piece was a true labor of love due to all the stuff that went wrong. I think God was testing me to see if I'd hang in there. Heaven knows my hubby would have chunked it in about 5 minutes. Of course, he'd have never started it in the first place!

I've gotten a lot of questions about it, so I think there's a tutorial comming maybe tomorrow or the next day if I can get it finished quickly. I've been working on a sideboard/buffet done the same way and have taken more pictures (although, not enough). Please hang in there and be patient with me. I'm still having to figure out the best time to do these posts because I don't want to neglect my family. Images are presenting a challenge due to the fact I have to use my hubby's work computer. Mine is a dinosaur and nearing extinction. Time for it to "evolve" into a new one. Oh, that's right. They don't do that. Darn!). I'm also doing a ton of work on pieces to sell as well as commissioned pieces. I'm so thankful for all you followers and the work God is sending my way. I've just got to figure out the best way to balance it all!

I've also got to figure out how to answer some comments that for some reason have NO REPLY as the address. How do I do a public response? Any one feel like sharing that info with me? I'll figure it out, but anything to speed this learning curve up is tremendously appreciated.

In the meantime, here's an inspiration pic for today. Enjoy:)

Look at what I get to see on my walks some mornings!

Guess what I did today?!

UGH! I had this done and posted and then to deleted it yesterday! Dog-gone-it! So, here's a quick recap:

Guess what we woke up to yesterday? I'll give you a hint:

O.k. two hints.

Figured it out yet? YUCK! We woke up to, let's just say....um....how do I put this tastefully (bad choice of words!)? A rather unpleasant surprise & having to wait till 2:00p.m. to shower or use our water facilities at all! A couple of hundred dollars later (thankfully not thousands or insurance having to get involved) we now have a clean septic tank, drain lines and some seriously sterilized bathrooms.
Lots of this was used by yours truly:

Having only been on city sewage before with our other two houses prior to this one, we learned something new yesterday (too bad the couple here before us didn't get to learn it): DON'T ever put grease down your disposal into a septic tank! It will literally turn into rocks...like it does in your arteries but, unlike you, your house doesn't quit just because it has a clogged line. Instead it just backs up and eventually comes out where ever it can!

We don't eat much greasy stuff because I tend to be a little bit of a health nut...not extreme but more than average around these southern parts. If you've ever been to the south, you know we love our fried anything! Apparently that was true with the previous homeowners.

All this to say, I didn't get my sideboard to the booth yesterday as planned. Instead, I spent the day wearing an oxygen mask (just kidding), sterilizing, and anxiously waiting to see what the damage was ($). I don't want to complain, though. We were blessed. It could have been SO much worse. I could have had restoration crews in my house for the next month!

Now back to stripping. Not that kind! Get your mind out of the gutter! I'm talking paint stripping. 

Sweet Gum Balls!

Sounds yummy, right? NOT! How many of you have cursed these prickly things after stepping on them barefoot? Ouch! I've always hated them because they are EVERYWHERE in the south.

I love to take my morning walks with my youngest and little Scottie dog. Where I walk there's a pond and it's where I find tons of inspiration. Nature is amazing! As I tell my kids, "Is God not the most incredible artist?". I'm trying to teach them to look at things in a different light...not just as a weed or tree, but at the form, color, texture, etc. to appreciate the beauty around them. So, one day while on my walk, I had an epiphany! Have you ever really looked at one of those hated spiky things?

image via Southernpost.net

Talk about texture and form! Suddenly, I was in love. My mind started to race with all the things I might could do with these things that up until then, had always been nothing short of a pain in the rear. Seriously, how many of us have stepped on one of these things barefooted as a kid?!

So, I took a "green" shopping bag and on my next walk, filled it up. When I got home, I got out the hot glue, spray paint, burlap and wreath form. This is what came out of it:

Now, let me just say, this one has seen better days. With three boys (not including neighborhood kids) going in and out of this door (it's the door from the garage to outside) a million times a day, SLAMMING it like there's an ax murderer after them, it's nothing short of miracle that it still looks as good as it does! It's been hanging on this door now for about two years - enough time to learn what works and what doesn't. I have learned an important tip...don't use a Styrofoam wreath form on a door that gets used a lot! I can't tell you how many times I've re-glued balls knocked off from a slamming door. Urrr....!

It's also a good idea to put some sticky adhesive of some sort (I like the reusable Handitack) at the base to keep it from swinging with the door.

That said, wanna see how to make one (it's not rocket science!)?

**I'm going to go ahead and put in a disclaimer here...little guy has been sick with croup and Mommy's playing catch-up. I accidentally left my camera set on standard picture quality and some of the images are grainy. I also forgot the watermark. Sorry! I need some sleep!**

Step one:

Gather your supplies.

1. straw wreath form - I left the plastic on mine

2. hot glue and gun

3. a reusable shopping bag FULL of sweet gum balls

4. fabric of choice (I used garden grade burlap cut into 2-3" strips)

5. wide ribbon to hang it with  (I cut burlap into strips so it wasn't so tailored)

6. needle nose/wire cutting pliers

7. spray paint (I used Valspar's Summer Leaf Green)

8. drop cloth or some kind of plastic/fabric to lay it on to paint

9. gloves - optional (I can't work with thick gloves on)

Step two:

Cut fabric or burlap into strips (5x or more) approximately 3" wide.

Step 3: 

Attach one end of burlap to wreath with glue,
wrap around and hot glue end to wreath.
Continue until wreath is completely wrapped.



Fully wrapped straw wreath. Ready for sweet gum balls!



 Step 4:

Use needle-nose pliers wire cutter to trim off all the stems.

Step 5:

Start hot gluing balls to wreath form.

• If you work from left to right (if right handed and vise-versa if left handed), you'll be able to better control all those irritating hot glue "strings" by dragging gun over the open burlap/fabric area rather than back over your freshly glued balls.
• Put the glue on the wreath, not the ball. If you put it on the ball, it runs down into the spikes and doesn't adhere as well (plus you'll use a TON of glue).

Step 6:

Spray paint that baby!

(or not if you'd prefer the natural look)!

See the strings above? THAT'S why you don't want to have them. They show up big-time with spray-paint!

Step 7:

Cut a piece of burlap if you want a rough look, or use ribbon to wrap around the wreath to create a hanger or bow or ....whatever your heart desires.

(I tried two looks just for the heck of it.)





I like simple, but if you wanted you could jazz it up. I also love the way burlap yellows over time from exposure. This one is still fresh.

Step 8:

Hang and enjoy!

So, now go make you one of these beauties! Oh, and don't be surprised if you have sore finger tips the next day. If you have questions, leave a comment and I'll give you an answer asap:)

Have fun!

Miss Bee

What kind of reader are you?

I'm curious...what kind of reader are you? Are you a true "reader" that likes to actually read the words on a blog/book, or do you "look-at-the-pictures-and-maybe-read-the-words-if-there-aren't-too-many"
(how's that for a long name:)? Let's take a poll. Leave a comment telling me which you are, if you can
find a spare minute.

I love to read, but I have found that with kids and etc. constantly interrupting my train of thought, I tend to skip the words and just look at the pictures when blog hopping if they (kids) are all up. Now if they're asleep/at school/wherever, I love to get caught up on all the good tips and tricks out there you guys post about. If not, then I look at the pictures, stash it for later and come back to read when I can think straight.

That in mind, today's post is going to be mainly pictures. I love spring time! I also love photography. I have a dream of designing wallpaper & fabric. That's one of the dreams that I have just been putting on hold until the kids get a little older. My youngest is 2 and if you have or ever had a two year old you know what I mean! They and my hubby are top priority. We're getting there, though. My two older boys are now at the age I could start my business so all in good time:)

I digress. I am constantly taking pictures that inspire me with design ideas to stash in my file. Some I take for the beauty of the composition, some for the pattern or design I see, and some for the color. My favorite season is spring because of the light and color everywhere. I LOVE color! People are more affected by it than they realize. Some are aware of it, some not.  I am profoundly so. Many hours were spent sleepless in college and grad school studing color (sometimes by osmosis!) - how to print it accurately, advertising's subliminal use of it, the psychology of it, temperature of it, etc. My whole mood changes with color.
How about you?



Looking out my dining room window early one morning!  Glorious!




One of my favorite flowers/trees - the Magnolia. True symbol of the south.



Have you ever looked close at stuff - really close?

Details - form, pattern, texture!

Look at the texture and pattern. How often you take the time to look at the everyday things of beauty?

Color and texture - dew on a sign.

Again, dew. Love the way light is reflecting off the dandelion!

Sun through a water droplet on a bench.

Detail! Texture!

Another southern sight - azaleas. Awesome color!

Color and light on my irises.

A weed is even beautiful!

Gorgeous cherry blossoms - color!

Even moss on a little damn at the pond is beautiful with texture and color.

Lastly, one of my favorites - Bradford Pear blossoms. I love green and white!

 Now, back to my original question. I put the text at the top for a reason. I want to test you. Did you read it first or skip straight to the pictures? If you're visual, like me, you went straight for the eye candy and then went back to read about them. Let me know which you did. It helps to make me a better blogger if I
know what my readers like.

I also hope one or all of my pictures get you excited and inspired somehow. It's spring! Time to throw open doors and window (if you're not allergic to pollen, that is), clean out, throw a fresh coat of paint on things and get creative! Tomorrow I'm showing you a project I love that is super easy and almost free.
Get ready for my first tutorial:)

Miss Bee

p.s. I'm linking this up to A Beach Cottage - Good Life Wednesday Linky Party. Click on the button below for some more inspiration!